Chennai: Cultivation of GM mustard would directly hit the livelihood of the farmers and affect the health of the consumers, said experts who took part in a panel discussion on Genetically Modified Organisms and Politics of Food organised by Poovulagin Nanbargal here in Chennai on Saturday.
The experts cautioned against the approval for GM mustard's commercial cultivation in India as it paves away to other genetically modified crops. Health experts joined farmers and environmentalists in the voice against the herbicide tolerant crop like GM mustard, as they put forth the health hazard of the consumers. Dr.Devinder Sharma, one of the panelists, called GM mustard a “junk seed” being touted as a high yielder when it does not seem to be yielding any higher than several available non-GM hybrids in the market. “It is being foisted on us through a scientific fraud. Will other breeders in the country also be allowed to release low-performing products like GM mustard?” he asked.Panelists pointed out that GM mustard poses a grave threat to the sovereignty of the country. “GM mustard is only a door-opener for hundred other GMOs, by showing a public sector face. Bayer, the world's largest agribusiness giant stands to gain by this GM mustard while farmers, agricultural workers and consumers of this country will all be losers,” they said.
Emphasising that GM mustard is unsafe for the environment and health, Dr Sultan Ismail, said that the scientific evidence from other countries shows numerous problems .
“Herbicide tolerant crops will result in larger chemical usage on the mustard crop. This has direct implications for agricultural workers and their employment opportunities. It will also mean greater chemical residues in our food, leading to health impacts on consumers. In Ayurveda and other Indian systems of medicine, mustard is used in different preparations. No testing has been done on the impact of GM mustard on these medicines”, said Dr Sivaraman, a Siddha expert.
